Dose-dependent association between xerostomia and number of medications among older adults

Purpose/Aim To investigate factors associated with self-reported dry mouth (xerostomia) among older adults seeking dental care at a University clinic. Materials and Methods A query was performed in the electronic records database and de-identified data were collected from patients aged 65 + recorded on the date that the initial health history was entered. Among these patients, data about patients' medications, gender, age, BMI, tobacco use, alcohol addiction, diabetes, heart disease, joint replacement, allergies to medications, hypertension, and mental disorders were obtained. Evaluation of potential risk factors for dry mouth was performed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyzes (alpha = 0.05). Results A total of 11,061 subjects were included in the analysis, 51.5% of whom were women. The mean age in years was 74.2 +/- 7.0, the median number of medications was 7 (IQR = 4-11), and 38.5% of the participants reported dry mouth. The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of xerostomia for subjects who took 11 +, 7-10, or 4-6 medications were 3.34, 2.07, or 1.38 times those of subjects who had took 0-3 medications, respectively. Conclusion Number of medications showed a strong and dose-dependent association with xerostomia.